The '90s In Action! - "The Matrix" (1999)

What is funny about “The Matrix” is that some considered it the dawn of the 21st century of filmmaking despite being released in 1999. The movie made waves with its heavily stylized action, its innovative effects, and its iconic cyberpunk setting and characters.

It also inspired countless movies afterwards. There's the tone and leather costumes found in 2000's "X-Men" and then there are "Matrix" clones such as "Equilibrium" in 2002, for example. Even video games such as "Max Payne" were inspired by elements of the movie, particularly bullet time, the method of slowing down time in order to see something you normally wouldn't see such as a bullet.

The movie follows Neo (Keanu Reeves), a hacker who feels like something is missing from his life. One day, he is contacted by a mysterious figure known as Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Morpheus’ second-in-command, Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss).

They eventually reveal to Neo that the world he is living in is a lie. Neo, like most of humanity, is trapped in a simulated world known as the Matrix. In the real world, the Machines took over and nearly destroyed humanity during a great war.

Trinity and Neo prepare to take on the Machines in 'The Matrix'!

However, the machines need a great amount of power to function and human bodies are an abundant resource of the power that they need. Therefore, the Machines created a world for us to live in while they feed off of our bodies.

So, what makes Neo so special? Morpheus explains that there is a prophecy of The One, a man who can learn to control the Matrix and eventually free humanity from the simulation and take down the Machines. In the meantime, though, the humans that have already been freed try to free others while avoiding capture by Agents, sinister programs the were created in order to police the Matrix.

This is one of those movies that when you see it for the first time, you want to watch it again. The special-effects are insane as is the action that they help create. The iconic hallway fight with Neo and Trinity against a group of guards is still one of the best action sequences ever committed to film.

Another highlight of the movie is Neo’s encounters with Agent Smith, a truly devious and self-aware Agent that genuinely hates humans and having to deal with them in the Matrix. Smith is played to perfection by Hugo Weaving in a role that almost steals the show.

Reeves once again proves why he became one of the biggest action stars of the past 30 years. He’s also got great support by Moss as Trinity and Fishburne as Morpheus.

I will say that the movie’s soundtrack kind of dates things as the music is definitely of its time, but Don Davis’ score is still memorable. If you love a gritty cyberpunk tone, then this is definitely the movie for you.

The film was followed up by three sequels. While I will admit that I’ve gotten some enjoyment out of “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions”, I cannot stress how much I think you should avoid “The Matrix Resurrections”. In spite of the sequels which plenty of fans have issues with, no one can deny the style, the action, and the influence of “The Matrix”.

25 years later, it’s still one of the best sci-fi action films ever made.